Lebanon chief still unsure what caused house fire

LEBANON, Maine — A fire that destroyed a home to a family of five on Tuesday is believed to have started near the kitchen area of the Oak Hill Road home, according to Fire Chief Skip Wood.

The fire at 205 Oak Hill Road, reported around 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, took firefighters more than an hour to get under control, but did not result in any injuries.

On Thursday, Wood said while the garage built into the first floor of the house appeared to be "pretty much intact," the living quarters of the home are believed to be a total loss.

The house, estimated to be about 2,646 square feet with four or five bedrooms, was fully involved in flames when a neighbor reported the blaze Tuesday afternoon.

On Thursday, Wood said the fire likely began on the right side of the building, toward the back of the house, near the kitchen area.

Jim Bedard, who has lived at the home with his family since 1996, said neither his wife nor his three children were home when the fire started. He said the family dog escaped the house and was uninjured in the incident.

According to Wood, the Red Cross has provided a temporary living arrangement for the family in a hotel. He said the home was insured, and it's possible the Bedards' insurance company would provide the family with temporary living arrangements as well.

Bedard said Tuesday there was previously a fire at his home about nine years ago. Back then, the fire began due to an electrical problem, and the damage caused by the blaze was repairable.

After Tuesday's blaze, however, the living quarters may have to be completely rebuilt, said Wood.

On Thursday, Wood said he did not know what caused the fire. He said the Maine Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the incident.